Dr Bhavesh Jain
Birthplace:
Bikaner, Rajasthan
Residence:
Nagpur, Maharashtra
Qualifications:
B.Sc. in Naturopathy
Inspiration:
Self-inspired
MAKING A MARK ON HIS OWN
Circumstances often tried to pull him down, but a man of conviction and grit, he never stopped on his way. From surviving on the streets to setting up his clinic and then counselling those in need, he has been a live example of what one’s steely resolve can help one achieve. Very truly, the sky’s the limit for such an individual.
A calm countenance doesn’t always reflect the magnitude of the rough tide one is sailing through, or has sailed through in life. Those endowed with the supreme virtue of patience often like to keep within themselves their internal turmoils, the pain and the sufferings they’ve endured. Dr. Bhavesh Jain, a practising Naturopathy expert, looks quite comfortable in his skin. But what’s inside him comes from the hard evolution he has faced.
“I never believed my identity, my orientation, and my sexuality to be my whole life; yes, these were integral to my life but it was more about my people and what I wanted to achieve,” he says. Never the one to say quits, he has fought on well, achieved what he set out to, and is in a position to help others today.
Born in Bikaner in 1980, Bhavesh faced a tough childhood. Although assigned a female at birth, he always felt troubled by the thought that he was trapped in the wrong body. Not quite able to understand what he was going through, he never had anyone to share his problems with.
“There was nobody I could speak to. Being a female itself was tough. I was regularly reprimanded for even small things like wearing a shirt.”
That apart, he says he faced a lot of abuse, which at that time, his young and innocent mind could not understand.
“My parents never supported me in my search for my true identity. That remains one of my biggest disappointments,” he rues.
In school, he was forced to wear a skirt – and he found it very tough. “I always wanted to dress up as a boy. I felt like a boy and was attracted to girls like other boys in the class. But I just could not talk about it,” he recalls.
When he was 17, his marriage became a recurrent discussion in the family. “I wanted to study further and be a doctor. But I could not even speak out loud about what I felt about my body. I felt very claustrophobic and could no longer take it,” he reveals.
Starting a new life
Facing this rather impossible situation, he took a drastic step – he fled to Mumbai. “I was around 17 and had no idea what it would take to survive in a big city like that. I started living on the footpath and took up odd jobs like washing utensils at restaurants or selling pens, stationery, and knick-knacks on pavements and on trains,” he recalls.
“I cut my hair short and dressed like a man. Many a time, I would pretend to be speech-impaired fearing people recognising me as a female. Whatever little I earned, I saved. I was determined to complete my studies.”
He started attending a night school and cleared class 12. “During this time, I met a person who, seeing my ability to sell, felt I could be good at a marketing job. He directed me towards pharmaceutical sales, though at that time I had zero understanding of the industry. But he encouraged me, saying ‘everything is possible’.”
Everything is possible
Drilling this mantra into his mind, Bhavesh decided to take the plunge into pharma marketing and joined Themis Medicare, a pharma company, in Bengaluru. “They were a little apprehensive as I was still a woman. But I requested them to give me a trial run.”
Bhavesh was absorbed and soon became their best sales representative. He worked there from 2004 to 2015 and then moved to Madhya Pradesh and worked in Indore and Bhopal.
These developments heralded happy tidings for him and he was enthused with energy. He then completed his three-year B.Sc. in Naturopathy from Delhi Institute of Naturopathy, Nagpur branch. “I now run a small clinic in Nagpur.”
Bhavesh started his transition in the year 2017 and had his SRS done in Delhi. He had done his research and had found that Delhi was a good place for such surgeries. There he met Dr Narendra Kaushik, who works for the transgender community and is an SRS expert. “He counselled me and helped me through the transition. I found many friends within the community,” he says.
It was the sheer determination to eke out a better life that kept Bhavesh going. “Earning and saving, I bought a house 13 years back and it is the biggest asset I am proud of.”
People in his neighbourhood had first seen him as a female. “When my transition began, they kept wondering what was happening to me. I was very aware of what was going on in their minds. They wondered if I was a kinner, a hijra, or a gay. But now I’m bold enough to tell them that this is my life and I’m living it my way.”
He says, “I am the first transman in Nagpur to come out. I announced it during a gathering of transgender community in the city in 2020. It was very important to bring awareness to society.”
Bhavesh now works for other transmen and helps them come out. “I am on my own, but I also work with the Humsafar Trust, and along with Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, I do whatever I can to help the community.”
He adds, “Even at Saarthi, where I also volunteer, and at Humsafar Trust, they were not very aware of transgender persons as they had mostly worked with kinners and hijras. So, I step in and do my bit. It’s been a few years of my association with them. I also work with the TWEET Foundation and other organisations in various capacities.”
Source of strength
All through his life and struggles, he has met people who lent him immense strength. Among them is Anjali, his partner of 15 years. He first met Anjali in Nashik where he was working, and they soon developed a liking for each other. He opened up to her, sharing his desire to become a man. Anjali promised to stand by him through thick and thin. They shifted to Nagpur and have remained together since. “It’s her support that has largely contributed towards my growth and wellbeing,” admits Bhavesh.
The scrapping of the IPC Section 377, according to Bhavesh, was like a “lifeline thrown to us. It was as if we were given freedom”.
More needs to be done
Though the laws have been helpful, he feels a lot more still needs to be done. “At times the documentation processes for transgender people get exhaustingly lengthy. While officials know about the third gender or kinners because they are more visible, they have little understanding about them, which necessitates a lot of explaining, which in turn, delays processes. The best and only solution is to hold awareness campaigns.”
Bhavesh has opened the doors of his home to help members of the community and encourage them to come out openly. “We can expect change only if we remain in touch with each other as we are with society. It is not easy, but things are gradually changing.”
VISION FOR THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY
Bhavesh feels that transgender people are in no way different from others and wish to live their lives just as everyone else does. With a lot of people now coming out confidently, he wants the community to reach out to them and help. “I am proud to say that I am a transman. All transgender people should believe in their inner strength. Worrying about what society says will only make you weak. I feel that in the coming days, many more people will openly embrace what they are.”
MESSAGE FOR THE MAINSTREAM SOCIETY
“Love and accept us as we are. We have not done anything wrong to be cast aside. We too have incubated for nine months in our mother’s womb like you.” To the parents, he says, “Always protect and back your children. Life without parents is very tough. I still regret that my parents, who have since passed away, never supported me. Whatever I do, I will always miss them. Do not discourage your child. Understand what he or she is going through and stand behind them and see to it that they are well-educated.”
FIVE FACTS ABOUT BHAVESH
He loves cricket.
His favourite cricketers are Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni.
Loving to dance, he can break into a swirl anytime – and the most graciously!
He may not be very choosy about food but has a soft spot for daal baati.
He would be proud to be reborn as a transgender person, but wishes for supportive parents
